AMP Armageddon (22 page)

I replied, "We are holding our own, Duke. We aren’t finished yet."

Our pursuit of the Duke lasted for hours on end. His dodges and attempts to lure us into traps with his other ships had not worked. The navigator the Colonel had sent to help with our movements was better than any I had ever seen.

I opened a comm channel. "Miss Lewellen. I just wanted to say what a fantastic job you have done with those controls. I’ve only known one other pilot who could hold course with you."

Desia Lewellen replied, "That would probably have been my aunt, Maria Rodriguez, Sir. She was the reason I got into nav in the first place."

My mouth dropped open. "No way! You are Maria’s niece! I should have noticed the family resemblance!"

Desia laughed. "Our family has a long line of diva pilots, Sir. I’m just glad that I have been able to be put in the same class as my aunt. She practically raised me as her own, Sir. Her passing was hard."

I slowly nodded. "Indeed it was, Desia. Your aunt, York, and Frost had been my three queens of destruction, and are all solely responsible for me still being here today. Maria is missed in this final fight of fights, Desia. She is missed dearly."

Desia turned and smiled as her next set of waypoints steered the ship in continued pursuit of the Duke. "Thank you, Sir. She always spoke highly of you, Sir. She told me if I could ever stick with you, I would survive all this."

I nodded. "Let’s hope that ends up true, Desia. Just keep doing what you are doing, and we will get there."

Our pursuit of the Duke continued for several hours before the last of the Tantric armor layers on his ship were breached. The short break had allowed us to once again shake off the matrix cube and take our fight back to the other ships of the Duke’s fleet.

I opened a comm channel to the Colonel. "How are the Ghouls holding up, Colonel?"

The Colonel sighed as he replied, "We have lost north of 23 percent of our ships, Don. Those losses are coming at a faster pace with each hour that passes. I give us two days tops before the Defiant fleet has been eliminated. We have lost a lot of good Marines, Don, people that I have known for fifty years."

I spoke. "We have done well to be where we are, Colonel. We have to hold out until Frig takes down that complex. I think things may change in our favor once that happens. Until then, keep yourself and your men in the fight, Colonel. Let the Ghouls know how much they are appreciated."

The Colonel grunted. "Ha! Those old bags know their worth already, Grange. I wouldn’t want them to get big heads!"

I laughed. "Thanks for the brevity, Colonel. Keep the troops rallied, Sir. We’ve never needed their continued great service more. I’ll keep you informed if things change."

As we bore down on a Colossun cruiser, our weapons officer fired a salvo of rounds as I worked our portal generator. A section of three decks was soon floating in space as we passed by at a sub-light speed. Without the structural stability that the decks had provided, the cruiser broke in two as it attempted a hard turn. Desia changed our course to look for a new target, and the process of hunt and kill continued.

Word came from Frig. "Sir, the containment complex is up and functioning. You have another six hours of fight before that gravity wave reaches the Duke’s complex. We will be ready for that active skin when it comes down."

I replied, "Finally, that is the first good news we have had. I have a new location for the Duke’s ship locked in. We aren’t going to move on it until you tell us that the destruction of the complex is imminent. And I don’t know how closely you have been watching the stats on this war, but we are not doing well. The Duke’s armies are within two kilometers of the fortress walls. When he pushes our people inside that boundary, there is no more falling back."

I continued, "And our fleet is doing poorly as well. Our Virt Marines are getting the crap kicked out of them now. They are down 70 percent of their ships, and those numbers are accelerating. We couldn’t have held out this long without them, and they are sacrificing everything."

Frig replied, "They do not feel they have an identity without Mankind. They exist, but they do not strive to better themselves or their situation. That is a necessary function in life that is completely missing from their psyches. Without Humans, they are incomplete."

I flipped a screen of our stats out of view. "Well then, we will just have to win this war for them, that’s all. They are a part of us, and we are just as much a part of them."

I pulled the fleet status screen up on the holo-display. Our numbers were dismal. I walked over to John and placed my hand on his shoulder. "Got any ideas of how we can better stay alive? We have at least six hours before we can go after the Duke again."

The weapons officer sitting next to John spoke. "I have an idea I’ve been kicking around, Sir."

I replied, "Let’s hear it, Mr. Haskel."

Haskel cleared his throat. "I have noticed, Sir, that every time those clone ships pod up and blast that cube, it at first backs away before turning to attack the pod. I was thinking, if we can get it to chase one of us in close to that star, we might be able to lay a trap with a couple sets of those pods. If we catch them in close, they may turn towards that sun before realizing their mistake. We would have to run them up as close as we could, pushing our own shielding limits, but it just might force them into some excess damage."

I turned to the navigator. "Desia, lay in a course for that cube, and let’s get it chasing us one more time. John, get me three pods of Earth ships set up on the other side of that sun. We are going to take them in as close as we can. Mr. Haskel, thanks for coming up with this. Even if it doesn’t work, it was worth the effort."

A close flyby of the matrix cube had it once again following our lead. Haskel fired the occasional pulse while Desia allowed them to come ever closer to the
Rogers
. We soon found ourselves closing in on the star’s chromosphere. The cube matched our trajectory as the external temperatures began to climb.

I spoke. "Desia, watch that temperature and make sure we go as close as we can without overwhelming that active skin."

Desia replied, "I’m one step ahead of you, Sir. Check out the arch from this solar flare. I am going to steer us right under that arch. That cube doesn’t turn very fast, and I’m hoping whoever is driving that thing will stay focused on us."

I pulled up the images that Desia was working with. "Nice! Maybe we can pick off a few of those outer ships!"

Desia spoke. "Sir, I have another one that is two-thirds of the way to our target. I doubt they will fall for it a second time, but I will give it a shot."

As we swept in close, the absorption percentage of the active sodium skin began to rise. As it reached 92 percent, Desia leveled out our path and proceeded to steer us to the upcoming flare. Fifteen seconds later, we cut under the low, arching flare as the matrix cube followed. As the cube spun through the flare, the damage we had sought was done. Three hundred twelve damaged ships were ejected and fell quickly into the star’s surface, which burned at just over five thousand degrees Celsius. Desia’s devious plan had been successful.

As the second flare came into view, the cube slightly altered course to avoid the damage that another flare would cause.

I spoke. "Nice work, Desia. We only have twenty-eight thousand more of those ships to destroy before that cube is finished. Three hundred is a good start."

As we continued to blaze along, just above the superheated surface, the Duke hailed me on the comm. "That was a brilliant move, Mr. Grange. I will have to say that I am impressed with your pilot’s flying skills. You are using all of the resources available to you in an attempt to win. While an ingenious little ploy, it had an insignificant impact on the overall war, don’t you think? I will, however, commend you on your continued ability to come up with new tactics to counter my advantage."

I replied, "We have more in store for you, Duke. Who knows, maybe we can take you out with a flare as well."

I closed the comm channel as we approached the point of ambush. When the three pods we had positioned fired their particle beams, the drivers of the sphere reacted as Haskel had predicted. After a short brush with the surface of the star, another eighteen hundred damaged ships were expelled from the spinning matrix cube.

I hailed the Duke. "I tried to warn you, but you just won’t listen. If you turn and leave now, you might be able to come back and fight another day."

The Duke laughed. "Yet another ingenious display of Human cunning, Mr. Grange. The experience of this war just gets better and better. I am now almost regretting the loss of my foes. My clones would have been furious at the losses you would have undoubtedly imposed on their forces. But, I guess I will just have to be happy with experiencing this war for myself."

The pods broke up and headed back into battle as we jumped away from the cube to the other side of Megiddo. Our absorption rate had gone as high as 96 percent during our run. I again congratulated Desia on her skill as a pilot, and Haskel on his ingenuity.

As the fighting continued, our forces were pushed back to the fortress walls. Relentless surges of attacking soldiers had all but eliminated the cloned BGS Marines that had been fighting for us. Their sacrifices had kept most of the Humans on the ground alive. With their numbers dwindling, that was about to change.

The battle in space was going equally poorly. The Colonel’s Defiant force was starting to lose men and ships at an increasing pace. Nearly one-third of the Ghouls had perished, along with 40 percent of their ships. Bloody battles raged across many an attacking warship as the Ghouls continued their ship assaults.

Our Earth fleet was now down 80 percent, with an end to the fight in sight. We had managed to keep the
Rogers
undamaged, as Desia evaded the enemy while Haskel destroyed those who got close. With the Duke now having such a wide advantage, it would only be hours before our fleet was gone.

As the timer ticked past zero hour for Frig’s assault on the Duke’s complex, I spoke. "Frig! Tell me the Duke is dead!"

Frig replied, "He is under chase as we speak. Our incursion was a complete surprise!"

Desia spoke. "Sir! We have eight cruisers coming in on our tail. The Duke’s web ships look to be closing us into a trap. I don’t know that we can escape without jumping out now, Sir!"

I swiped the holo-display in front of me until the portal control screen was visible. A flashing red box covered the disabled start button.

I reopened the comm channel to Frig. "Frig! I have a flashing red button over the portal command button. What does that mean?"

Frig replied, "I’m pulling your data in over my HUD now, Sir. Give me a moment."

Haskel yelled, "We are taking heavy fire, Sir! Absorption rate has hit 52 percent and is climbing with each hit!"

I spoke to Frig. "We can’t hold them off much longer. Tell me how I can jump!"

Frig replied, "I’m afraid you can’t, Sir. They have flooded the space around you with radio waves that are preventing the portal generators from setting up a clean wave. They have you blocked, Sir. You will have to find another way! We have the Duke pinned down, Sir! We should have him any moment!"

I powered up the Yacabucci in an attempt to free us from the trap the Duke had raised around us. The web was ineffective against the Duke’s network of ships and their portal jammers. We were stuck circling about as the Duke’s ships pounded our active skin with heavy ion bolts. We only had minutes to live.

I raised the Duke on the comm. "Nice little trap you sprang on us there, Duke. The jammers were completely unexpected."

The Duke replied, "It seems we both have our surprises, Mr. Grange. You will have to tell me how you found my other complex. I thought that an impossibility."

Frig spoke. "The Duke is down! The one you have there is the only one left. Take him out, Sir!"

I broadcast a message to our remaining ships. "The Duke’s ship is at the coordinates I just sent out. Everyone converge on that point and kill that ship!"

The Duke spoke. "And now it is time for your story to come to an end, Mr. Grange. The network of web ships around you will continue to tighten until there is no room left. I have enjoyed the entertainment, Mr. Grange. And I will be sad to see you go."

The Colonel came over the comm. "Grange! We just had three shiploads of Kurtz fighters disappear! The Duke must be moving his people out!"

I pulled up my tactical display and took note of the number of the Duke’s ships that were drifting aimlessly or continuing on a course in a straight line with where they had last been heading.

A comm came in from Admiral Chaulk on the surface of Megiddo. "The Targ just disappeared, along with three other species! What is happening up there?"

Desia spoke. "The web network is breaking apart, Sir! We have a way out, and I’m taking it!"

John spoke. "Our remaining ships chased the Duke from his hidden location. He is rallying behind the Durian ships that are still in his employ. We do not have the ships remaining needed to break through his defensive line."

Haskel spoke. "Sir! Another thirty thousand ships just dropped through light speed! They are closing on our location!"

Admiral Chaulk again opened a channel. "Mr. Grange! All the forces outside, excluding the Durians, have disappeared! We have the Durian force in retreat!"

Frig spoke. "Don, I brought some friends with me! We are surrounding the Duke as we speak."

I yelled into the comm, "Kill him if you get the shot!"

The Duke hailed me. "Bravo, Mr. Grange. You have bested me! Indeed, you Humans are worthy of survival!"

I replied, "It’s time to end your million-year reign of horror, Duke! I promised you I would see you dead!"

The Duke laughed. "Ah, poor Mr. Grange. Always just a step behind! I’m afraid you have broken your promise about my demise. You will likely not see me again in your lifetime. The universe is a big place, with billions of galaxies to conquer and control. Goodbye, Mr. Grange. You have been a worthy opponent!"

As we blasted our way through his Durian defenders, a portal opened in front of the Duke’s black ship. I pounded my fists on my armrests as his ship slowly moved through to a place beyond.

I yelled at Desia, "Take us through that portal!"

Desia turned as the portal closed. "Sorry, Sir. Best I could do was a scan. He just jumped into free space heading back towards the Tadpole galaxy, Sir."

I shook my head in anger at that which had just transpired. "Set a course for the Tadpole, Desia!"

Frig spoke. "We are following as well, Don. Although our chances of catching the Duke are slim, we must try!"

As we jumped towards the Duke’s initial destination, I spoke. "Frig, you said you brought some friends. Who were you able to rally?"

Frig replied, "I paid a visit to my Gambit brethren, who were all too happy to join my fleet of destroyers, Sir. As the supernova containment structure was being built, I made another trip, this time to see the Milgari. I used the Duke’s complex to move their fleet here in a single jump."

I stood and began to pace the deck of the
Rogers
. "What happened to all the other species?"

Frig passed a data screen showing the number of beings that had been transferred. "I sent them all back to their Grids with their memories restored. They won’t be of any threat to anyone for quite some time. Their own survival will be their priority."

As we jumped into the Tadpole galaxy, a quick scan told us that the Duke was not there. Frig detected residual data from a jump; its destination was not known.

As I sat back in my chair, I had a moment of panic. "The complex! Tell me you destroyed the complex!"

Frig replied, "I did, after transferring each of the species that were involved in the battle back to their Grid and sending the Milgari through. I set the destruction of the complex in motion. The structure was collapsing as we jumped away. If we are finished here, I will return to see that the destruction was complete."

I directed Desia to make a few random jumps around the galaxy, with scans to follow. I knew it was the longest of long shots, but I had to make one last try at locating the ancient android who could one day return to end all Human existence. Our sweeps were unsuccessful.

Upon return to Megiddo, I found that the Durians had surrendered. I landed the
Rogers
in a field beside where they were being held as our ships transferred them to the surface.

I located the Durian commander. "So, I hope you can now see that your god was a false god. He was defeated by mere mortals. He was nothing but an android whose purpose was to entertain himself by having others do battle."

The Durian commander raised his head slowly. "Our foundation has crumbled before us. All that we thought true has been a lie. I know that it is unthinkable at this time, but I ask for leniency when deciding upon our punishment. Do as you will with those of us who are warriors; I only ask that you have mercy on what remains of our population."

I slapped the Durian on the shoulder. "Buck up, Commander. The war is over. A new alliance will be formed, and all those who join it will be treated fairly. You and your warriors will be going home. The killing has ended. This War of Wars is over, never to be fought again. It is time that all of the sentient species in these galaxies got along. Try to imagine such a future, Commander. Let your commitment to that be the Durians’ penance."